AIR RAID SHELTERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24634, 16 June 1941, Page 10

AIR RAID SHELTERS

ACTION IN NEW SOUTH WALES UNUSED SEWER RESERVED (Air Mail) SYDNEY, June 8. After a year of troubled slumber, the air raid precautions organisation in New South Wales is stirring. The fairy prince with the wand of action is the Minister of National Emergency. Mr Heffron, who, since the Labour Government took office, has started to fulfil pre-election promises. Mr Heffron has assumed full powers to control air raid precautions, .which give him authority over hospitals, transports, and shelters. . Newlygazetted regulations require householders to provide their own air raid shelters, the Government promising to assist financially where needed. No Time Lost The Government will provide air raid shelters for its own employees, and private enterprises will be expected to do likewise. It will have power to order the construction of public air raid shelters and shelters at schools and hospitals. It may also acquire any promises for the protection of life and property and control firefighting services. ■ • No time was lost in exercising the new regulations. They were gazetted on Thursday, and the same day Mr Heffron reserved seven miles of a new unused ocean outfall sewer which was built to serve a section of southern and western Sydney suburbs as a public air raid shelter. It will afford shelter for 30,000 people. Ten entrances estimated to cost £I2OO will be provided immediately at convenient population centres.

The sewer is constructed at sea level, but ground contours result in its depth below the surface varying to 120 feet. All necessary openings at a near ground level can be cut in 48 hours. Enthusiasm Revived

At .one stroke, Mr Heffron revived the enthusiasm of A.R.P. workers, wardens and municipal councils. He gave the City Council of Sydney permission to go ahead with its scheme for an underground control centre, on which work will begin immediately. The Lord Mayor, Alderman S. S. Crick,, expressed his delight. "We will now be able to put into effect the scheme of organisation prepared during the last three months,'' he said. "Air raid control centres can now be established so that they will be organised and equipped to deal with any emergency. Posts can be established and equipped for the training of first aid workers under qualified teachers. The City Council will have control of private buildings in the city, and will be able to tell property-owners what will be required for the protection of each building, and how t,his work is to be carried out under proper supervision."